How Explicit Between-School Tracking Contributes to Social Inequality in Educational Outcomes
Review
Tracking occurs in many countries and grade levels. It has been the topic of many educational debates. Some pros would be that the students more advanced in their class would be with each other and therefore teachers could increase the rigor of the class expanding their knowledge without slowing them down. Also, the students that are behind (in theory) would receive extra attention to try an catch them up to the norms. The idea makes sense but in reality the students struggling will fall further behind other students because they never get as much information as the higher level students, and typically these are the misbehaving students that when all together can make an extremely difficult task for a teacher, even with a co-teacher. Most places do track at the high school level.
The article also referred to how being in a different "track" is often linked to family success. There is a good chance that bias is being used when making these tracks.
Reaction
Tracking into 2 different levels to me is crazy. Although the higher track is bound for success with the conditions of a more concentrated class of peers and harder material, it is a quick throw under the bus for the other students. To make this track occur right after middle school when students have not yet fully developed is really crazy. Also, what about the kids who just miss the cut. they could probably survive in the track above them but they are being restricted by the low expectations of the lower track in my opinion this just can't work fairly. My thoughts would be a highly advanced track the top 10% and then a 90% below it with standardized expectations. I do believe it is unfair that some students will always be way ahead of the game so at least 10% should have the chance to move further up. This may not be possible due to budgets and what not though, if that is the case then I'd be a 1 track kind of guy and if you want your child to be pushed to a highest level, send them to private school or be a constant teacher at home.
How Explicit Between-School Tracking Contributes to Social Inequality in Educational Outcomes
Review
Tracking occurs in many countries and grade levels. It has been the topic of many educational debates. Some pros would be that the students more advanced in their class would be with each other and therefore teachers could increase the rigor of the class expanding their knowledge without slowing them down. Also, the students that are behind (in theory) would receive extra attention to try an catch them up to the norms. The idea makes sense but in reality the students struggling will fall further behind other students because they never get as much information as the higher level students, and typically these are the misbehaving students that when all together can make an extremely difficult task for a teacher, even with a co-teacher. Most places do track at the high school level.
The article also referred to how being in a different "track" is often linked to family success. There is a good chance that bias is being used when making these tracks.
Reaction
Tracking into 2 different levels to me is crazy. Although the higher track is bound for success with the conditions of a more concentrated class of peers and harder material, it is a quick throw under the bus for the other students. To make this track occur right after middle school when students have not yet fully developed is really crazy. Also, what about the kids who just miss the cut. they could probably survive in the track above them but they are being restricted by the low expectations of the lower track in my opinion this just can't work fairly. My thoughts would be a highly advanced track the top 10% and then a 90% below it with standardized expectations. I do believe it is unfair that some students will always be way ahead of the game so at least 10% should have the chance to move further up. This may not be possible due to budgets and what not though, if that is the case then I'd be a 1 track kind of guy and if you want your child to be pushed to a highest level, send them to private school or be a constant teacher at home.